Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein has passed away. 
He was 70 years old.
He'd been battling dementia, and had chronic lung problems.
Edmonton talk show host Leslie Primeau covered Klein for years.
.
"It's been expected actually for about the last month. He's been quite ill for the last couple of years, which is kind of sad. One of the stories of course that we're running is that it's really sad that a man that lived by the power of his voice to no longer have any when he died. He had sort of started to lose his memory, he suffered from dementia."
Klein's wife, Colleen had this to say in a statement: "My beloved husband Ralph has slipped away after 42 years of marriage, and 70 years of life.
"In his public life, while many will now debate what he stood for, he himself simply believed that public service was important, that it need not be complicated, and that it revolved around people."
Premier Christy Clark issued her own statement: "Canada has lost a great leader … one of Canada's most passionate and colourful politicians."
She adds her thoughts and prayers are with his family.